Thursday, September 28, 2017

Thu, Sep 28, 2017 at 10:14 AM

Photo courtesy of Angelica Rubalcaba

The original photo in question.

A local baker says Walmart used her work without permission.

Angelica Rubalcaba runs AngelicaMadeMe, a blog and custom-decorated cookie business in Oakland. A few days ago, a photo of a pair of leggings from Walmart’s No Boundaries brand started circulating on social media. The leggings are printed with Halloween-themed cookies, most of which other bakers across the country say have been used without their permission.

Photo courtesy of Georganne Bell

The baker behind LilaLoa is the first who found her cookie on a pair of Walmart leggings.

If the leggings merely portrayed identical cookie designs to the ones on the various baking blogs, copyright infringement would be difficult to prove. However, Rubalcaba said she believes that Walmart took the bakers’ actual photos, which would be protected under copyright law.

“They should have systems and teams in place to address copyright before it gets to this point,” Rubalcaba said. “Maybe because we’re not a big band or company, they thought no one would notice.”

Rubalcaba contacted Walmart, which has since told Rubalcaba that an internal investigation is taking place. Walmart sent a brief statement to the Express: “We take claims like this seriously and appreciate it being brought to our attention. We’ve reached out to the supplier and they are looking into it.”

What now? Probably nothing, Rubalcaba admitted.

“I talked to the other bakers, and we all agree this sucks but we also can’t afford a lawyer,” she said. “I hope they’ll find some way to make it right.”

Thu, Sep 28, 2017 at 8:28 AM

Photo courtesy of Terrence McCarthy

John Blevins and Ana Gosnell at Clove & Hoof.

The team behind Clove & Hoof is working on an old-fashioned soda fountain set to open in December.

Co-owners John Blevins and Ana Gosnell will launch The Fountain (4001 Broadway) right next to their popular butcher shop in North Oakland. They plan to deck it out in retro nostalgia, from the design to the menu. Details are a little vague right now but expect milkshakes, sundaes, malts, egg creams, and sodas, with an interesting lean toward savory flavors.

Sodas are currently the main focus for Blevins, who will make all the tinctures and bitters. He’s collaborating with Oakland's Five Flavors Herbs in the hopes of unveiling some hand-foraged root beer, for example. Other flavors he’s contemplating: lavender honey cream, Douglas Fir maple, and celery.

The Fountain might make its own ice cream down the line, but for now, it’ll scoop Strauss. The fixins are likely where Blevins will get creative. “I like spins on classics, but you’re not gonna see a banana split,” he said.

It’s a small, 700-square-foot space, which means there won’t be any seating. Instead, Blevins will perform his “alchemy” from behind a big, wraparound bar, where customers are meant to stand. The idea is that it’s relaxed and social — you can chat with Blevins like you would with a bartender mixing your craft cocktails.

“It’s gonna be a super fun space — more of the same that we do at Clove & Hoof but applied to liquids,” he said.